HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING: Waynesboro begins season on Saturday

There's a youth movement underway in the Waynesboro Indians wrestling program after the departure of four more key contributors to last year's 8-11 team.

WAYNESBORO — There's a youth movement underway in the Waynesboro Indians wrestling program after the departure of four more key contributors to last year's 8-11 team.Gone are Trey Andree, Tyler Warner, Isaac Swink and Matt Young. However, returning seniors Colby Mowen, Jesse Smith, Steven Egolf and Andrew Paterno should soften the blow and not leave the cupboards entirely bare of varsity experience."I expect this season to be a year with both highs and lows because the numbers are down and we are going to rely on more underclassmen who have very little varsity experience," said Waynesboro head coach Eric Mowen, who is in his seventh season with the Tribe varsity team as top coach. "Our projected lineup looks to have four freshmen and four sophomores, so there will be growing pains and a learning curve that must be shortlived if we expect to compete night in and night out."We will rely heavily on bonus points from our upperclassmen who have lots of experience. Our expectation is to win, get better every day and get 100 percent effort. This group collectively has a great work ethic and attitude thus far, which will go a long way towards our success."The season begins Saturday at the annual Muhlenburg Tournament. The first dual meet is Dec. 20 at James Buchanan.A quick look back to last season reveals just how fickle things can be in the sport.After a 10-10 season in 2010-11 and after losing only four seniors and returning 12 starters and four District 3 qualifiers, the 2011-12 "season was one of high expectations," Mowen said. "Our team struggled to finish 8-11, being hit with one issue after another. . . It's hard to win giving up two or three forfeits and expect to win in our district."The Indians won the season opener against James Buchanan in a match that Waynesboro lost head to head. The Indians won head to head against both Gettysburg and Perkiomen Valley only to lose by forfeits.Waynesboro went 4-1 in the Muhlenburg Tournament and routed Greencastle-Antrim 59-10 to extend its record to 6-1. That would be the team's last victory for a month, as the Tribe lost eight straight matches before beating Avon Grove 34-30 at the Garden Spot Duals.The Indians ended the Mid-Penn Colonial Division competition with a 48-30 win over West Perry and lost the final match of the season to Susquehanna Township.Mowen finished the season with 21 wins, including 14 by pin. Smith was also a 21-match winner with 12 pins and was named to the Mid-Penn Colonial Division First Team. Paterno was a Second Team selection.Mowen and Smith also qualified for the district championships.

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